Merkel toughens on migrant crimes

Police use tear gas, water cannon to clear rally of far-right supporters after protesters fling firecrackers

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Saturday backed stricter laws to expel convicted refugees, as clashes erupted at far-right protests in Cologne over a rash of sexual assaults blamed on asylum seekers.

Cologne police said they have now recorded 379 cases of New Year's Eve violence - ranging from groping to theft to two reported rapes - with asylum seekers and illegal migrants making up the majority of suspects.